Scot Fest 2012

Posted:
09/11/2012 07:42:32 AM MDT

A violent collision splinters lances and knocks knights off of their horses during the final day of heavy armor jousting competition on Sunday. Jousting has become so popular it warrented it's own History Chanel series and a National Geographic documentary. (Walt Hester)

The US Air Force Honor Guard Precision Drill Team delights the crowd at the main parade ground at the Scot Fest on Sunday. The team performed several times throughout the weekend including while marching down Elkhorn Avenue during the parade. (Walt Hester)

This weekend marked the 36th Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival. The vent has grown from a large family gathering in Bond Park to the largest celebration of Celtic heritage in North America.

The Scot Fest draws fans from all over North America to relatively tiny Estes Park every September, swelling the population from around 6,000 to over 75,000 people. The surge was so great this year that gas stations ran out of grades of gasoline.

Marching bands from the Marine Corps, the Army and the precision drill team from the Air Force Honor Guard made the trip, performing in Saturday's parade as well as daily at the main parade grounds at Stanley Park.

A Highland athlete swings a heavy ball on the end of a pole, a Highland hammer, before launching it during competition on Saturday. Weight toss for height and distance, shief toss and caber toss are also events in the Highland athletic competion. (Walt Hester)

While pipe bands arrived from Denver, Fort Collins, Cheyenne and much farther away, the bagpipes weren't the only music. Albannach, the wildly popular percussive band from Scotland, again rocked the throngs who packed the band tent. Old favorites like Seamus Kennedy and Brigadoon performed, as did new talent like Highland Reign and Arvel Bird.

All this as well as piping, dancing and Highland athletic competitions, dogs of the British Isles, the clans and historic demonstrations packed the fairgrounds all weekend long.

Here are a few images from the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival.

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The Golden Girls Baton Academy twirlers impress parade-goers with their dancing and twirling during Saturday's Scot Fest parade. Pipe bands, military bands, dogs, military re-enactors and, of course, the clans thrilled the thousands of visitors who came to town for the largest Celtic heritage festival in North America. (Walt Hester)

Susan Anderson of Nederland takes the opportunity of the Scot Fest to dress as a mythical Celtic being on Sunday. Kilts, armor and fairy wings were all at the festival grounds during the Scot Fest. (Walt Hester)

The El Jabel Shrine Pipe and Drum Band leads the clans from the field after the Kirking of the Tartans on Sunday. The El Jabel Pipe and Drums is the oldest pipe and drum band in Colorado. (Walt Hester)

A dog bounds happily over a bar during a demonstration at the Dogs of the Brittish Isles area at the Scot Fest on Saturday. The performing dogs ran obstacle courses, caught flying discs and herded sheep. (Walt Hester)

Throngs of fans jam the rock music tent on Saturday to hear Albannach. The Scottish band draws huge crowds every year they play the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival. (Walt Hester)